Copyholder and line guide



Oct, 13 19 4 SlLVEY-PEARLE TINSLER 3,152,530

COPYHOLDER AND LINE GUIDE Filed March 26, 1963 v Z8 26 L 224 K la, F .E:

INVENTOR S/LVEV- PEARLE T/NSLE'R ATTORNEYS United States Patent ()fiice 3,152,586 Patented Oct. 13, 1964 3,152,580 CflPYl-EOLDER AND LINE GUIDE Silvey-Pearle Tinsier, 320 E. 42nd St, New York, N.Y., assignor of one-half to lean Lat-hing, New York, N.Y. Fiied Mar. 26, 1963, Ser. No. 268,171 1 Claim. (Cl. 126-493) The present invention relates generally to copyholders for use with printed matter. More particularly, this invention pertains to an aid for use with printed matter, that is a copyholder, the same being particularly adapted to be positioned upon a planar surface, such as a table, whereby an individual is rendered able to maintain his place upon a page of printed matter, as when reading or typing therefrom, and, at the same time, be able to concentrate upon one line of said printed matter at a time without being confused by the many lines appearing upon any one page.

Heretofore, copyholders have been suggested but are subject to certain defects indigenous thereto. Thus, such copyholders as comprise the prior art are relatively expensive to manufacture, considering the size of the device, the use to which it is to be put, and the fact that, generally, it is desirable that the same be capable of portability in any convenient manner under a wide variety of circumstances. Moreover, with regard to the use of the prior art copyholders, the same are not readily assembled and disassembled and, when disassembled, do not present a small enough appearance as to be capable of translation in all types of cases, pocket-books, and even pockets. Some are even extremely bulky, again considering the size of the device and the use thereof, resulting in the need to purchase more than one, each of which is used in and at a different location.

Although one of the primary objects of the present invention is to provide an aid for use with printed matter, namely, a copyholder, that is unusually efficiently and readily assembled and disassembled, it is to be understood that another primary object of this invention is to provide a copyholder that is unusually efficiently and readily assembled and disassembled and, at the same time, when disassembled, presents an extremely small appearance, whereby the copyholder of this invention is easily translated by any means available, such as various types of cases, pocket-books, and even in ones pocket.

In addition to the general primary objects set forth supra, the present invention has further, more specific primary objects, namely, (a) to provide an aid for use with printed matter, namely, a copyholder for aiding one to maintain his place upon a page of such matter, as when reading or typing therefrom, and, at the same time, be able to concentrate upon one line at a time without being confused by the many lines appearing upon any one page, said copyholder being easily fabricated of inexpensive materials; ([2) to provide a copyholder that is fabricated of inexpensive materials and yet is sturdy and capable of withstanding various conditions of use without requiring replacement after only a short period of time; (c) to provide a copyholder that is inexpensively fabricated and is comprised of relatively few parts, and; (d) to provide a copyholder that is inexpensively fabricated of few parts, unusually readily assembled, unusually efiicient and easy to use, disassembled without any difficulty and, in disassembled form, presents a small appearance without bulk, whereby the copyholder of the present invention may be translated from one point of use to another in any convenient manner, and even in ones pocket.

The invention lies in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the various assemblies, parts, and components of the copyholder which form the preferred embodiment of the present invention and which is described in detail hereinbelow. The description refers to the illustrative embodiment of the invention presented in the annexed drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a frontal perspective view of the present invention illustrating the various component parts thereof in mutual cooperative engagement;

PEG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the present invention particularly illustrating the manner in which the component parts thereof mutually cooperate to support the present invention upon a planar surface; and

FIG. 3 is an exploded side elevational view of the component parts of the present invention in disassembled form.

Reference is now made more specifically to the drawing for purposes of explaining the detailed aspects of the instant development.

In the drawing, there is illustrated a copyholder, generally indicated by the reference character 2, in accordance with the present invention. The copyholder 2 comprises a tablet 4, a support 6 and a line-guide 8.

The tablet is preferably of rectangular configuration and is particularly adapted to be positioned upon a planar surface (not shown), such as a table. As illustrated, the tablet 4 is adapted to be positioned upon a surface along one of the edges 10 thereof defining the longitudinal dimensional extremity of the tablet. In this manner, the greatest dimension of the tablet 4, namely, the longitudinal dimension thereof, will extend upwardly from the surface upon which the tablet is positioned. In a manner considered readily apparent, the edges 12 of the tablet 4 define the transverse dimensional extremity thereof. The line-guide 8 is particularly adapted to mutually cooperatively engage one of the edges 12, in a manner to be described more fully hereinafter.

The tablet 4 is fabricated of any suitable material, such as an inherently resilient thermoplastic. Thus, for example, the tablet 4 may be fabricated of polyethylene, polypropylene and polystyrene. Preferably, the tablet 4 is fabricated of inherently resilient 25 gauge polystyrene. It is to be understood, however, that other materials, including thermosetting plastics, may be used.

In order to support the tablet 4 upon a planar surface, such as a table, at a convenient angular relationship with respect thereto, thus rendering printed matter supported upon the tablet easier to read, there is provided the support 6. The support 6 is also preferably fabricated of inherently resilient 25 gauge polystyrene and is comprised of a plurality of legs.

The first leg 14 of the support 6 is positioned upon one surface 22 comprising the rear or back or backing surface of the tablet 4- and is secured thereto in any suitable manner. The leg 14 is substantially rectangularly shaped and longitudinally substantially equal to the longitudinal dimension of the tablet 4, as can clearly be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. The second leg 16 is connected at one end 16a thereof to the first leg 14. The leg 16 is also generally rectangularly shaped but is of somewhat less longitudinal extent than the leg 14. The third leg 13, connected at one end 18a thereof to the leg 16, is also generally rectangularly shaped and is of somewhat less longitudinal extent than both of the le s 14 and 16. And, finally, the fourth leg Zil, connected at one end 20a thereof to the leg 18, which is also substantially rectangularly shaped, is of less longitudinal extent than each and every one of the legs 14, 16 and 18. The leg 26 is adapted to cooperate with another surface 24 comprising the front face of the tablet 4 in a manner hereinafter described. With regard to the leg 26, the longitudinal dimension thereof, which extends in the same direction as the longitudinal dimension of the legs 14, 16 and 18, may be and is preferably reduced to such an extent that it is less than the transverse dimension thereof. Thus, as shown in FIG. 1, the longitudinal dimension of the leg 20 is less than the transverse dimension thereof so that only a small portion of the other or front surface 24 extending longitudinally thereof is covered thereby.

It is to be understood, therefore, that each of the legs 14, 16, 18 and 20 is integrally connected at on end thereof to a preceding leg. Thus, for example, and as pointed out supra, the leg 16 is integrally connected at one end thereof to the leg 14, and so on. Thus, each succeeding leg is integrally connected at one end thereof to a preceding leg. In this manner, when the legs are unfolded and positioned as shown in H6. 2, a triangle is formed for positioning and supporting the tablet 4 upon a planar surface. t is further to be understood that, if the tablet 4 is positioned at right angles with respect to the surface upon which it is to be positioned, the apex 26 of the triangle is located or disposed medially of the edges 10 of the tablet, which edges define the longitudinal extent thereof, as pointed out supra. It is by reason of this relationship that the tablet 4 is angularly disposed with respect to its cooperating planar surface: that is, with the apex 26 resting or positioned upon the planar surface, the table 4 will be angularly disposed with respect thereto.

The leg 20 is, as pointed out supra, and as illustrated in FIG. 1, particularly adapted to cooperate with the front face 24- of thetable Thus, any tendency of legs 14, 16, 13 and 20 to return to a folded position, as illustrated in FIG. 3, by reason of the inherent resiliency in the material from which the support 6 is fabricated, will be resisted and the support 5 maintained in assembled form with respect to the tablet 4, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. As shown in FIG. 1, the copyholder 2 may be positioned upon a planar surface along the edge lift thereof opposite that about which the leg 29 is positioned. However, the holder may be positioned oppositely than as shown in FIG. 1, in which position the edge it which cooperates with the leg 2d will be positioned upon the planar surface with which the leg 2d cooperates.

It will be understood that various advertising indicia, not shown, may be positioned upon any one of the legs 14, 16, 18 and 29. Preferably, such advertising indicia as is disposed on any of legs is so positioned that the same may be visualized when the legs are in both assembled and disassembled position.

As pointed out supra, at line-guide 8 is particularly adapted to cooperate with one of the edges 12 of the tablet 4-, the line-guide being so constituted and arranged and cooperating with the edge in such a manner as to position and maintain printed matter upon the tablet and aid an individual using the copyholder 2 to maintain his place upon a page of such matter and concentrate upon one line at a time, without becoming confused with all of the lines appearing upon such a page.

To this end, the line-guide 8 is provided with one arm 28 comprising a positioning and guiding arm that is par ticularly adapted to mutually cooperatively engage the front face of the tablet l. The arm 28 is substantially rectangularly shaped, the longitudinal dimensional extent of which is greater than the transverse dimensional extent of the tablet 4. It can be seen, therefore, and particularly in FIGS. 1 and 2, that the arm 23 extends beyond or outwardly of one of the edges 12 of the tablet, as indicated at 50.

Another arm 32 comprising a backing arm is adapted to mutually cooperatively engage the back face 22 of the tablet 4. The longitudinal dimensional extent of the backing arm 32 is less than the transverse dimensional extent of the tablet 4, as defined by the edges 12 thereof, and, thus, is of less longitudinal dimensional extent than the positioning and guiding arm 28. This arm 32 is particularly adapted to have various advertising indicia positioned thereupon, though not shown. Of course, advertising indicia can also be positioned on the arm 2-3 and upon any of the other components comprising the lineguide 2. For example, as point out supra, advertising indicia may be positioned upon one of the legs 14, 16, 18 and 20 of the support 6.

The positioning and guiding arm 28 is integrally connected at one end 23a thereof to a mounting head 34. The mounting head 34 is substantially rectangularly shaped, but the longitudinal axis thereof, that is, the greatest dimension of the rectangle, is positioned substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the arm 28. Additionally, the longitudinal dimensional extent of the mounting head 34 is greater than the transverse dimensional extent of the arm 28, whereby the arm 28 and the head 34 are, in effect, T-shaped in configuration.

The backing arm 32 is also connected, at one end 32a thereof, to a mounting head 36. The mounting head 35 is also substantially rectangularly shaped with the greatest dimension thereof, namely, the longitudinal dimensional extent, extending in the same direction as the greatest dimension of the mounting head 34. The mounting heads 34 and 36 are inte rally connected to each other opposite the ends thereof integrally connected to the arms and 32, respectively. Additionally, the mounting heads 3d and d6 are connected to one another medially of the edges thereof at which they are connected to each other and to the arms 23 and 32. This may be accomplished in any suitable manner, as, for example, by rivets 38.

It is to be understood that the transverse dimensional extent of the mounting head 35 is somewhat greater than the same dimension of the head 34. This is clearly shown in phantom at 4-9 in FIG. 1. The result is to provide the head Be. With a substantial surface area for mutual cooperative engagement with the back face 22 of the table 4, the surface area of the head 36 being greater than that of the mounting head 34, as is considered readily apparent.

The corners and 36a of the mounting eads 34 and 3-6, respectively, are bevelled, and, in like manner, so are the corners 28b and 32b of the arms 28 and 32, respectively, whereby the line-guide 8 presents a smooth peripheral appearance and the danger of minor skin abrasions occurring during use is substantially precluded.

The line-guide 3 may be fabricated and preferably is fabricated of the same material as the tablet 4 and the support 6, namely, inherently resilient polystyrene. However, in the case of the line-guide 8, a thinner gauge polystyrene can be used, and, therefore, 10 gauge polystyrene is preferred in the fabrication thereof.

In the use of the copyholder 2, the same is inherently resiliently in a substantially folded position as clearly shown in FIG. 3, in which each of the legs 14, 16, 1S and 26 are folded back upon themselves and thus are disposed closely adjacent and in substantially parallel relationship with respect to one another and with respect to the tablet 4, and, specifically, the back face 22 thereof. The line-guide 8 is separated from the remaining components of the copyholder 2 when disassembled, as shown in FIG. 3, whereby all of the components, namely, the tablet 4, support 6 and the line-guide 3 may easily be translated from one point of use to another in any convenient manner, as by ones pocket. It is noted that, in disassembled form, the copyholder 2 presents a small appearance, without bulk, whereby the holder is rendered translatable by any suitable and convenient means available.

When it is desired to use the C PYhOlder 2, the legs 14, 15, 1t, and 29 are unfolded and, specifically, the leg 20 moved to the front of the tablet 4 and placed in mutual cooperative engagement with the front face 24 thereof, as clearly shown in FIG. 1. In so doing, the legs form a triangle, as pointed out supra, whereby the copyholder 2 may be positioned upon and supported by any planar surface, such as a table, and in angular relationship with respect thereto, as clearly shown in FIGS. 1. and 2.

The line-guide 8 may now be positioned in mutual cooperative engagement with one of the edges 12 of the tablet 4. it is to be understood that the mounting heads 34 and 36 are positioned in back-to-back relationship with respect to one another and form, in effect, a clip, whereby the line-guide 8 may be mounted upon the tablet 4. Once mounted along one of the edges 12, the line-guide 8 will remain in cooperative engagement therewith since the heads 34 and 36 are connected to one another by means of the rivets 38. In other words, since the rivets 38 connect the heads 34 and 36 to one another, the heads tend to inherently resiliently remain in back-to-back contact with one another, especially in the area of such closely approximating the rivets 38. When the line-guide 8 is placed upon the tablet 4, it is so positioned as to place the edge 12 of the tablet approximately or substantially in engagement with the rivets 38. Since, as just pointed out, the heads 34 and 36 tend to inherently resiliently remain in back-to-back relationship or contact with one another, the head 34 will frictionally engage the surface 24 and the head 36 will frictionally engage the surface 22 of the tablet 4, whereby the line-guide 8 will be maintainable in position upon the tablet until removed therefrom. It is to be understood, however, that the frictional engagement of the line-guide 8 with respect to the tablet 4 is not such as to preclude ready movement of the line-guide along the edge 12 of the tablet with which the line-guide is mutually cooperative.

It is further to be understood that the mounting head 36, as pointed out supra, is provided with more surface area for contact with the surface 22 than the head 34 is provided with for contact with the surface 24. The result is to provide greater surface area for frictional contact with the surface 22 for effectively maintaining the lineguide 8 mutually cooperative with the tablet 4.

It is again pointed out that, once assembled, the copyholder 2 may be positioned upon a planar surface, such as a table, with either one of the edges thereof in engagement therewith. Thus, as shown in FIG. 1, that one of the edges 10 opposite the one in cooperative engagement with the leg 20 of the support 6 is positioned upon and in engagement with the planar surface. It is to be understood, however, that when positioned upon the planar surface oppositely than as shown in FIG. 1, that is, with that one of the edges 10 cooperatively engaged with the leg 20 positioned upon and in engagement with the planar surface, the copyholder 2 will be substantially more secure since the planar surface will maintain the leg 20 in position and thus preclude the support 6 from folding to a disassembled position.

A page of printed matter may now be placed upon the tablet 4 between the surface 24 thereof and the positioning and guiding arm 28. And, the line-guide 8 may be moved up and down the tablet 4 to aid an individual in maintaining his place upon the page and substantially precluding confusion by enabling the individual to concentrate upon one line of printed matter at a time. When the page is small, the inherent resiliency of the arm 28 will maintain the page upon the tablet. When using a page of substantial size, however, it may be necessary and desired to provide additional means for supporting the page upon the tablet. To this end, the larger page may be positioned, along one edge thereof, between the mounting head 34 and the surface 24 of the tablet 4 and another edge thereof may be positioned between the leg 20 and the surface 24. By so positioning the page, any tendency of the same to fall from position upon the surface 24 of the tablet 4 will be substantially if not completely eliminated.

After reading the foregoing detailed description of the preferred and illustrative line-guide incorporating the various embodiments of my invention, it will be understood that the objectives set forth at the outset of this specification have been successfully achieved.

What is claimed is:

A copyholder comprising in combination, a substantially rectangularly shaped tablet having a front and rear face, a support secured to said tablet on said rear face for supporting said tablet upon and in angular relationship with respect to a planar surface, said support comprising a plurality of legs, a first of said legs being secured to said rear face of said tablet, a second of said legs being integrally connected at one end thereof to said first leg and being of less longitudinal dimensional extent than said first leg, a third of said legs being integrally connected at one end thereof to said second leg and being of less longitudinal dimensional extent than said first and said second legs, a fourth of said legs being integrally connected at one end thereof to and being of less longitudinal dimensional extent than said third leg, said legs being selectively positionable in a first position in which the same are disposed closely adjacent and in substantially parallel relationship with respect to said rear surface of said tablet and in a second position in which each succeeding leg is substantially angularly disposed with respect to its preceding leg, said legs of said support being maintainable in said second position for effectively positioning said tablet upon and in angular relationship with respect to said planar surface, and a line-guide for engagement with one of the edges of said tablet, said line-guide comprising a positioning and guiding arm engaging said front face of said tablet for positioning reading matter thereupon, a backing arm engaging the rear face of said said tablet, the longitudinal extent of said arms engaging said rear face being greater than and the longitudinal dimensional extent of the arm engaging said front face being less than the transverse dimensional extent of said tablet, each of said arms being integrally connected to a separate substantially rectangularly shaped mounting head, each of said mounting heads being integrally connected to one another along one of the edges thereof and being further connected to each other medially of said edges, each of said mounting heads being longitudinally extensive along an axis disposed substantially at right angles with respect to the longitudinally extensive axis of said arms, whereby said line-guide is T-shaped in configuration and said mounting heads provide substantial surface area for frictional engagement with the front and rear faces of said tablet when positioned in back-to-back relationship with respect to one another, thereby maintaining said line-guide in position upon said tablet until the same is removed therefrom.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 825,053 Hoag July 3, 1906 1,439,138 White Dec. 19, 1922 2,322,259 Thurston June 22, 1943 

